High-performance N, P-CNL nanocomposites as catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cell

Transition metal and heteroatom codoped carbon materials have become the most promising materials to replace commercial platinum carbon (Pt / C) catalysts due to their low cost, high stability, and methanol resistance. In this work, iron-nitrogen and phosphorus codoped carbon nanorod-layer composites (N, P-CNL) derived from phosphorus-doped polyaniline (P-PANI) by phytic acid (PA) and iron salt were successfully obtained after high-temperature pyrolysis. As a result, the N, P-CNL materials exhibited good electrocatalytic performance due to abundant active sites. The N, P-CNL with 50% mass filling ratio of iron salt (named as N, P-CNL-1:1) displayed an enhanced limiting current density of −5.97 mA cm⁻² at 1600 rpm and outstanding onset potential (−0.004 V) and oxygen reduction peak potential (−0.144 V). In general, this work can give insights into understanding the mechanism of codoped catalysts and synthesis the catalyst with excellent long-term stability and resistance to methanol crossover and poisoning better than commercial Pt/C.